Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Trip to Portugal Day 4 (3) (Lisbon - Belém Tower)

After visiting the monastery, we headed to the Belém Tower. There was also a line to get in, but since we bought combined tickets at the monastery, we could directly go inside without waiting. This fortified tower, same as the monastery, has the Portuguese Manueline style and is an UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Then we headed to the top of the tower through this very narrow spiral staircase. It is in fact so narrow that two people cannot pass and thus we had wait every time someone came down. It took a lot of time to reach the top.

階段の途中には窓があって外の様子が見えます。

On the way to the top, there were several windows from which we could see through outside.

やっとの思いで頂上に着きました。

Finally, we were at the top!

ムーア建築の影響を受けたデザインのタレット。

Moorish turrets.

頂上は結構高く、テージョ川とその川辺の様子がよく見渡せます。

From the top, we could look over the Tejo River.

堡塁のテラスを見下ろすとこんな感じ。

Looking down the terrace of bastion from the top.

細かい装飾には航海を思わせるデザインがあちこちに見られます。

The detailed decorations symbolize Portugal's nautical explorations.

その後また狭～い階段をゆっくりと降りて、一階部分へ。

Then we went down to the first floor through the same narrow staircase that we took to go up.

回廊から塔の部分を見上げたところ。

Looking up the tower from the cloister.

一階にはたくさんの大砲が川に向かって置かれています。この階は水面とほぼ同じ高さです。

In this magazine, many cannons are stored.

この大砲にだけ実弾 (?) が入っていました。

Only thin cannon is loaded.

塔から出てきてよくみると、ロープの結び目の装飾があるのに気づきました。けっこう芸が細かい！

After we came out, we noticed the knot in the carved rope. Very detail-oriented!

About Me

Thank you for visiting my blog. I was born and raised in Kyoto, Japan, and currently live in the Boston area with my husband from Taiwan and Poirot, the pug (male). We love to travel different places and eat good food of any kind (from street foods to Michelin 3 star restaurants). My articles are mostly written in Japanese, but I'll gradually add English version, as well.